Our eldest son, Hajime and his wife, Louise have 4 kids.
Their eldest child, Naomi got married last year. Her husband, Gab joined this group, together with Louise’s father, John. So, 8 of them enjoyed this trip to Japan in spring.
On the first day of their arrival in Japan, my son rented a 10-seat car and drove from Tokyo to Hakone via Yokohama where they visited Red Brik Warehouse.
After staying at a hotel in Gora for 3 nights, they moved to Tokyo and stayed there for 3 nights. After playing at Disney Sea on the seventh day, they returned to Sydney on an overnight flight.
This time, I will report on the part that my wife and I accompanied (after the second day in Hakone and two days in Tokyo).
The12th of April (Wednesday) Gora (breakfast) -> Sounzan -> Owakudani -> Lake Ashi -> Odawara Castle -> Odawara Port (lunch) -> Kana Garden -> "Torigin" in Shimosuga -> Stay at Gora
My wife and I left our home in Kamakura early in the morning. We headed to Sundance Hakone, where they were staying. The weather was fine in the morning, and we headed for Hakone along the Tokaido with Mt. Fuji in front of us.
The hotel is a 3-minute walk from Gora Station. Breakfast was buffet style and started at 8:30. The impact of COVID-19 measures still remained, and I felt uncomfortable using disposable gloves when serving meals, but the quality was satisfactory.
After breakfast, we headed to Sounzan Ropeway Station. It was a clear day at the foot of the mountain, but Mt. Hakone was in the clouds and the wind was strong, so the ropeway was out of service.
Sounzan Station is a transfer station for the cable car and ropeway, and I visited it for the first time in 10 years. This station was renewed in July 2020, and we can enjoy a free footbath with a wonderful view.
After enjoying a footbath at the observatory at Sounzan Station, we headed for Owakudani by car.
Owakudani on this day was in the clouds and the wind was very strong. When we walked a few minutes from the parking lot to the nearest building, the Kurotamagokan, we could be blown away. Still, the inside of "Kurotamagokan" was crowded with tourists. The main purpose of tourists is to buy souvenirs, regardless of the weather.
After spending about an hour shopping, we headed to Lake Ashi. We went to a shop called Bakery and Table in Motohakone. This is a place where you can buy your favorite bread on the 1st floor and eat it at a table with a good view on the 2nd floor. It seems to be particularly popular with foreigners, and it was crowded with people waiting for an empty table.
[Bakery & Table at Lake Ashi, 芦ノ湖湖畔のベイカリーアンドテーブル、아시노코 호수의 베이커리 앤 테이블]
After resting at Bakery and Table, we went down from Hakone to Odawara. As we descended the mountain, the weather was fine, so we parked the car in a parking lot near the moat and entered Odawara Castle.
The inside of the castle is like a museum, and you can see it from the bottom floor to the top floor of the castle tower. From the top floor of the castle tower, you can see not only the mountains of Hakone, but also the town of Odawara and the sea of Sagami Bay.
After visiting the castle tower, we headed to a small amusement park inside Odawara Castle Area There is a tiny train track here that even adults can ride on. I remember bringing my children there a long time ago, but we didn't get on this miniature train that time. This time, everyone got on board except our grandson Noah, and went around the orbit twice.
After Odawara Castle, we headed to Totoco, a restaurant in Odawara Port that they had researched in advance. This is a facility that I didn't even know about. The 1st floor is a souvenir shop, and the 2nd and 3rd floors are restaurants. We bought meal tickets, mainly fish dishes, and ate our favorite dishes.
Next, we headed to Kana Garden. It was the time when the cherry blossoms had finished and the roses had yet to bloom, but the tulips were in full bloom. I'm not sure how much impact it had on my grandchildren, but after visiting the botanical garden, we moved to the last event of the day, dinner.
The place is Shimosoga and the restaurant is "Torigin". Yakitori and kamameshi are their speciality. As for yakitori, the additional ordered “Tsukimi Yakitori” was unique and good. It was good to order three kinds of kamameshi and shared them with all of us because we were not hungry after eating there and there.
It was past eight o'clock in the evening when we returned to the hotel in Gora. After returning to the hotel, I went to the hot springs and went to sleep.
4/13 (Thursday) The second day since we joined.
Itinerary for the day: Gora - Oshino Hakkai - Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival Mt.Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station - Kawaguchiko Oishi Park - Gotemba/Meitetsu Saikan – Gora (Hotel Sandance)
We had breakfast at a stylish coffee restaurant near the hotel.
On this day, we descended the mountains of Hakone to the Yamanashi side and headed for Oshino Hakkai village. The cherry blossoms here were in full bloom, and Kikuko bought kusamochi and gave it to everyone.
The deep pond was impressive when I came for the first time about 40 years ago but it seems that there was no such deep pond any more. However, after enjoying the idyllic scenery, we headed for Arakurayama Sengen Park.
Visitors have to climb 400 steps to get to the scenic spot where they can see the five-storied pagoda, cherry blossoms, and Mt. Fuji. The cherry blossoms were scattered, but it was still a cherry blossom festival event, so there was a lot of people. In order to go up to the observatory on the top area, we have to wait for the replacement time of tourists every 5 minutes.
I'm the only one who's made it this far. Everyone was shopping and eating at the foot of the mountain. I got the sweetfish skewers that Hajime bought and ate it. He also bought peanuts in the shell and I ate enough to make a mess in the car. Both are delicious.
After this, we headed for the 5th Station of Mt. Fuji through the Subaru Line. The Subaru Line, which should have just opened this week, was bustling with tourists.
Sansai (wild vegetable) soba was 900 yen at the fifth station dining room. After lunch, we went to Komitake Shrine behind the restaurant and climbed up to the observatory. Noah searched for the Kendama, but I didn't confirm if he could buy it. After taking group photoes in front of the souvenir shop, we headed down the 5th station to Lake Kawaguchi. We headed for Oishi Park, which Hajime had been to several years ago.
The flowers here were gorgeous. We went to a cafe where Hajime used to drink coffee and drank takeout coffee. Soft-ice cream for children. After admiring the wonderful flowerbeds here, we went to a famous cherry blossom viewing spot by the lakeside of Lake Kawaguchi, and strolled along the embankment while watching newlywed couples taking commemorative photoes.
After that, we went down to Gotemba and went to a large Chinese restaurant called "Meitetsu Saikan" and had dinner.We could see Mt. Fuji well until the end of the day. The temperature of the hot springs at Sundance was just right.
4/14 (Fri) Leaving Hakone for Tokyo on this day. On the way, they stopped by my sister's home in Yamato City. Two of my sister's grandchildren stayed at my son's house in Sydney, so there was some interaction between cousins, but since it was a weekday, my sister’s grandkids could not make it and only my sister and her eldest son's wife took care of us.
My sister can make hanging dolls. She decorated them in her room and gave some of them as souvenirs.
After Yamato City, they also stopped by our house in Kamakura City. My son grew up here until college, but this will be the first visit for his grandchildren. It must be very rare. The cherry blossoms at the nearby Yatoike Park were almost over, but my grandchildren played with seesaws and other playground equipment before heading to Tokyo. we stayed at home.
After visiting my sister's house in Yamato City, they also stopped by our house in Kamakura City. My son grew up here until he was in college, but for my grandchildren, it's their first visit, so it must be quite unusual.
The cherry blossoms at the nearby Yatoike Park were almost over, but my grandkids played with seesaws and other playground equipment before heading to Tokyo (AirBnB). Kikko and I stayed at our home in Ofuna.
4/15 (Sat) So far, the weather has been good except for Owakudani and Lake Ashinoko, but it rained from the morning on this day. The eldest son's family stayed at a lodging (AirBnB) in Tokyo, and we met at the kimono rental shop "Yae(八重)" in Asakusa.
Three of our grandchildren visited a rental shop to wear kimonos. Unfortunately, it was raining, but they put on traditional kimonos and took a walk around the grounds of Senso-ji Temple.
Despite the bad weather, Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is very crowded. It would be nice if everyone walked together, but the pace was not the same, and while my wife and daughter-in-law were walking late, they got lost and returned to the rental shop first.
The three girls who changed into kimonos were surprisingly skilful at walking while holding umbrellas, so they didn't get wet in the rain as much as I had feared.
After visiting Sensoji Temple, our youngest granddaughter, Lily, took an interest in takoyaki and challenged her to eat “Takoyaki” while holding her umbrella.
In the rain, she ate “Takoyaki” being careful not to stain her clothes. It was nice to be able to take pictures in front of the main hall on the way. I parted ways with them at Asakusa and returned home via Shimbashi.
4/16 (Sunday) The eldest son, Hajime and his family are all Christians, and we are also believers in the God of the Bible, so we decided to meet at Tokyo Baptist Church (TBC), where services are available in English.
TBC is less than15 minutes by taxi from Shibuya station. We were in time for the service, but our daughter-in-law was not feeling well, so they didn't make it in time for the service.
Clinics that can be available on holidays are limited, and it was unexpectedly difficult to make an appointment. My son took his wife who was not feeling well and her mother who attended to her to the clinic while I was to show the rest of the group around the Imperial Palace.
It was my first experience to walk around the Imperial Palace from Kitanomaru, and it was a special experience that deviated from the regular Nijubashi course.
My son went to Akihabara from the clinic, and I traveled from Tokyo Station to Akihabara by train to join them.
We met at a coffee shop near Akihabara Station and went shopping and eating around Akihabara.
The weather, which had been fine during our tour of the Imperial Palace, suddenly changed when we met in Akihabara, and it began to rain.
In the meantime, I finished accompanying them at Akihabara and set off on my way home. Our daughter-in-law and my wife joined the group in Akihabara, and in the evening, they attended a buffet party at the Prince Hotel in Shinagawa.
I have a chronic disease (diabetes), so I refrained from joining the party.
My son’s group of six stayed another night at a lodging in Tokyo, and the next day they had a lot of fun at Disney Sea before heading to Sydney on a night flight.
Each person's experience is their own. I hope it is wll and long lasting.
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KR #11 シドニーの長男一家の日本旅行(箱根と東京)
シドニーの長男の家族が４月11日から１週間、訪日した。長男の４人の子供のうち、昨年結婚した長女の夫と、長男の義父が加わった8人が箱根と東京の日本の春を楽しんだ。
来日初日に10人乗りのレンタカーを使い、箱根に移動。途中、横浜の赤レンガ倉庫に寄って見学後、強羅のホテルに到着。箱根のホテルに3泊後、東京に移動して東京に3泊し。第7日目にデズニ―シーで遊んだ後、夜行便でシドニーへ戻った。
今回は妻と私が同行した部分(箱根の第２日以降、東京の２日間)について報告する。
4/12 (水) 強羅(朝食)→早雲山→大涌谷→芦ノ湖→小田原城→小田原港(昼食)→花菜ガーデン→曽我原「鳥ぎん」(夕食)→強羅泊
我々は鎌倉市の自宅を早朝に出発。彼らの宿泊場所であるサンダンス箱根に向かった。朝の天気は快晴で東海道に沿って富士山を正面にみながら箱根に向かった。
ホテルは強羅駅から徒歩3分。朝食はビュッフェ式で8:30から。まだCOVIT対策の影響が残り、食事を取り分けるときに使い捨て手袋を使うのに違和感を感じたが品質は満足。
朝食後、ロープウェーの早雲山駅へ向かった。この日、ふもとは快晴だったが、箱根山は雲の中でしかも強烈な風のため、ロープウェーは運用停止だった。
早雲山駅はケーブルカーとロープウェーの乗換駅で自分は10年ぶりの訪問。この駅は2020年７月にリニューアルされていて、素晴らしい展望とともになんと足湯が無料で楽しめる。
早雲山駅の展望台で足湯を楽しんだのち、車で大涌谷へ向かった。この日の大涌谷は雲の中でしかも強烈な風。駐車場から最も近い建物である「黒玉子館」まで徒歩２，３分の距離を歩くと吹き飛ばされそうになる。それでも「黒玉子館」の中は観光客でごった返していた。観光客の最大の目的はお土産を買うことで、それは天候には関係ない。買い物に小１時間ほど費やした後、芦ノ湖へ向かった。
元箱根のBakery and Tableという店に行った。ここは事前に調べておいた店で１Fで好きなパンを買って２Ｆの展望の良いテーブルで食す場所。特に外国人に人気のようで空きテーブル待ちの賑わいだった。
Bakery and Tableで休んだ後は、箱根を下りて小田原城に向かった。山を下ると天気は良く、お堀のそばの駐車場に車をとめ、小田原城に入った。 城の内部は博物館のようで、天守閣の下層から最上階まで順次観て回る。天守閣の最上階からの展望も箱根の山々はもちろん城下町の様相と相模湾の海まで見えてよい。
天守閣の見学が終わると、小田原城内にある小遊園地へ向かった。ここには小さなしかし大人も乗れる豆電車の軌道がある。昔、子供たちを連れて来たような記憶があるが、この豆電車には乗らなかった。今回、ノアを除いてみんなで乗車し、軌道を2回まわった。
小田原城の後は、これも事前に調べた小田原港の食べ処、Totocoへ向かった。ここは私も知らなかった施設で１Ｆは土産屋で、２Ｆと３Ｆは食堂。魚料理を中心に食券を購入してそれぞれが好みの料理を食べた。
次に向かったのは「花奈ガーデン」である。こちらは桜が終わり、バラはまだという時期だったが、チューリップが満開でみどころがあった。孫たちにどのくらいのインパクトがあったかは定かではないが、この植物園の見学後、この日の最後にイベントである夕食の場に移動した。
場所は下曽我で店は「鳥ぎん」。出し物は焼き鳥と釜飯。焼き鳥は追加オーダーした「月見焼き鳥」がユニークでよかった。釜飯は種類ごとに３つを注文して分けて食べたのは正解だった。というのはあちこちで買い食いしていたからだ。
強羅のホテルに戻ったのは夜の８時過ぎだった。ホテルに戻ってから温泉に入って就眠。
4/13 (木) 我々夫婦が合流して二日目。この日の行程：強羅～忍野八海～新倉山浅間公園桜まつり～富士山スバルライン五合目～河口湖大石公園～御殿場・名鉄菜館～強羅
朝食はホテルの近くの洒落たコーヒーレストランでサンドイッチなどを食べた。
この日は箱根の山を山梨側へ下り、忍野八海村へ向かった。ここの桜は満開で、喜久子が草餅を買って全員にふるまった。 以前来たときは深い池が印象的だったが、今回はそのような深い池はなかったようだ。しかし牧歌的な風景を楽しんでから新倉山浅間公園へ向かった。
ここは海外向けポスターに五重塔と桜と富士山がみえる風景が撮影されるスポットで400段の階段を登らなければならない。さくらは散っているがまだ桜祭りのイベント中で、たいへんな人出だった。最上段のさらに展望台に上るには５分置きの観光客の入れ替えタイムを待たなければならない。
ここまで行ったのは私だけ。皆は麓で買い食いをしていた。肇が買ったアユの串刺しをもらって食べた。また、殻付きピーナッツも買ったようで、車の中を散らかすほど食べた。どちらも美味だった。
この後、スバルラインを通って富士山五合目に向かった。スバルラインは今週オープンしたばかりのはずだが、観光客でにぎわっていた。 五合目の食堂で山菜蕎麦が900円だった。昼食後、裏の小御嶽神社へ行き、さらに展望台に上った。ノアが剣玉を探したが果たして購入できたか確認しなかった。
土産屋の前で集合写真を撮ったのち、五合目を下って河口湖へ向かった。肇が数年前に来たことがあるという「大石公園」へ向かった。 ここの花々は見事だった。以前、コーヒーを飲んだというカフェへ行ってテイクアウトのコーヒーを飲んだ。子供たちはソフトクリーム。ここですばらしい花壇を鑑賞後、河口湖の湖畔の桜の名所へ行き、新婚カップルが記念撮影をしているのを見ながら、土手を散歩した。
4/1４ (金) この日は箱根を離れ、東京へ向かう。途中、大和市の私の姉、息子にとっては叔母の家に寄った。姉の孫2人がそれぞれシドニーの息子の家にホームステイをしたのでいとこ同士のつきあいがあったが、平日のため姉と姉の長男の嫁さんが対応した。 姉は吊し雛を作ることができる。その一部を彼らに贈った。
彼らは大和市の次に鎌倉市の我が家にも立ち寄った。息子は大学時代までここで育ったが、孫たちにとっては初めての訪問になる。もの珍しいことだろう。近所の谷戸池公園の桜の盛りはほぼ終わっていたが、孫はシーソーなどの遊具で遊んでから東京へ向かった。我々は自宅にとどまった。
4/15(土) これまで大涌谷と芦ノ湖を除き天候に恵まれたが、この日は朝から雨。長男一家は東京の宿所に泊り、我々夫婦とは浅草の着物レンタルショップ「八重」で待ち合わせた。
4人の孫のうち、女の子3人が着物を着るためレンタルショップを訪れた。あいにくの雨模様ではあったが、着替えた着物を着て浅草寺境内を散策した。
悪天候にも関わらず、浅草の浅草寺はたいへんな人出。全員そろって歩けばよいのだが、ペースが一様ではなく、妻と嫁が遅れて歩いている間にはぐれてしまい、先にレンタルショップへもどってしまった。
着物に着替えた女の子3人は意外に傘を差しながら歩くのが巧みで、心配したほど雨にはぬれなかった。
浅草寺本堂の見学を終えてから末っ子のリリーがたこ焼きに興味を示し、傘を差しながらたこ焼きを食べることに挑戦した。
雨の中、着物をよごさないよう注意しつつ皆で食べた。途中、本堂の前で写真を撮れたのが良かった。浅草で一行と別れて、新橋経由で帰宅した。
4/16(日) 長男一家はみなクリスチャンであり、我々夫婦も聖書の神を信じる者なので、東京で英語の礼拝が可能な東京バプティスト教会(TBC)で会うことにした。
TBCは渋谷駅からタクシーで15分の距離。我々は礼拝に間に合ったが、息子の嫁が体調が悪く、礼拝には間に合わなかった。
休日受診できるクリニックは限られていて意外と予約を取るのに苦労した。息子が体調不良の嫁と妻をクリニックに連れてゆき、残りの一行は私が皇居を案内することになった。
皇居を北の丸から入って散策するのは初めての経験でいつもの二重橋コースから外れて特別な体験をした。
息子はクリニックから秋葉原へ向かい、一行は私が東京駅から秋葉原まで電車で移動して合流することになった。
秋葉原駅近くの喫茶店で合流し、秋葉原で食べ歩きかつショッピングをした。
皇居を案内してる間は快晴だった天気が、秋葉原で会う段になって急変してにわか雨が降りだした。
そんな中、私は案内をここまでにして、帰路に就いた。妻は嫁とともに秋葉原で一行に合流し、夕方は品川のプリンスホテルで立食のパーティに参加した。
私は持病(糖尿病)があるのでこちらは遠慮した。
息子たち８人は東京の宿所でもう一泊し、翌日はデズニ―シーで目いっぱい遊んで、夜の便でシドニーへ向かった。一人一人の体験は各自のもの。それがよいもので長く記憶に残りものであることを願う。
